HAM Radio, yes or no

derek jku

derek jku

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2012
Location
Concord, NC
It has been suggested that I get my license and purchase a HAM radio for off road use while in California due to some of the remote areas. How manyy folks here use a HAM radio for off road use back in NC? Currently I have a CB radio which has been working fine when my brother I just want to communicate say in Uwharrie. I was just curious as to how many people use HAM radio and if it would be worth the expense for the radio. Are there enough people using them? I don't have a problem with the license.
 
I can talk all over URE with a 2m ham radio. I can be in the valley at the creek on Falls Dam and talk to somebody at the Outpost. If I hit a repeater, I can talk to people in Greensboro.

Radios are cheap, antennas are cheap, the license is fairly easy to get. But nobody seems to have one anymore. I feel like it was more popular 10-15 years ago. Now the only people with radios are old dudes that have been in the hobby since the 70s.

Round numbers, you should be able to put a 2M radio in your vehicle for $200. Yaesu 2300 can be had for $140ish on sale, add $30 for a 5/8s wave Larsen 48" whip, and $30 for an NMO pigtail and bracket or NMO mag mount. Just be careful with the mag mounts -- I have heard that they can take the paint off your vehicle if you push too much power through them.
 
I'm a big fan of HAM radio. The audio is unbelievably better than CB. The range in unbelievably better than CB. I got my circle of wheeling buddies to convert and we all love it. The only reason I still have a CB in my rig is to use the PA feature.

But yeah, the down side is you have to get a group of folks to commit to the change or it isn't worth it. I say do it, or hell, run both a HAM rig and a CB if you're on the fence.
 
Never had one, but know of a couple guys that do. As said range is unbeatable, & there are plenty off Base stations, on, if you need help. I know a guy that drives a dump truck, & he's got All his toys in it. Makes me wonder when he finds time to drive! But he can talk to just about anywhere, as long as he can hit a repeater. Makes for a good hobby, & citizen, when natural disasters happen!
 
I have it in my Jeep. Love mine.
 
I've had mine 6 or so years. Great coverage at UNF with a mobile (50 Watt output). Handhelds not so good. License is easy to get. Biggest problem is not enough people have them. There are some good books out there, and lots of people pass just by running thru the on-line practice questions (not so good, because you really need to understand how things work, and the rules). All you need is a basic Tech license to get going on 2 Meter.

Lots of good radios around 150 or so that'll do all you need. Don't cheap out on the antenna and cable. I have an ICOM 2200 mobile in the truck, and a couple of handhelds. One is a Yaesu FT270 2m, the other is one of cheap chinese radios, 2m and 440 only like fifty bucks). Audio quality is nothing like the Yaesu.
 
Keep in mind that the antenna on most handhelds is a -3db gain (essentially halving the power output), where the cheap 48" whips I'm using are +3db gain. And the handhelds default to 2W, where minimum on my mobiles is 5W.
 
Thanks for the feedback. I bought a Yaesu FT-60 to start listening in on the various bands. Working on my license. I graduated 30 years ago from UNCC with a BEET so the electronics portion should be a piece of cake. I need to learn the etiquette and rules. If the bug bites, I may purchase a more substantial mobile radio for the Jeep.
 
You can always mount a regular antenna on the Jeep and plug the handheld into it with an adapter. Mine are mounted to the rear side of the tub, but you would probably get better output with them mounted alongside the hood or up on the roof.
 
There are two reasons I got into Ham radio and one of them is off-roading. Alot of the places that I may go (probably shouldn't go) have little to no cell phone service. What can Fix this problem, a Ham radio and license and local Repeaters.
From some of the posts I have noticed that people are referring to the radio and being a Ham, its not the radio its the person. Any one can purchase a radio, spin the dial to the same number as their buddy and talk to them, at long distances compared to a CB and very clear. This is wrong, and shouldn't be done, there are frequencies that can be used but regularly not.

A licensed Ham, can, and would know/find out what frequencies he should be using in the area.

I have radios is all my trucks along with stuff in the house, but I'm a radio geek :), but you can get a mobile radio for cheap on Ebay. Yeasu 2 meter radios are my favorite.

Here is a list of repeaters that can give you a great reach, depending on their quality over hundreds of miles. Also there is a repeater that serves the NE of NC, and can do phone patches. Phone Patches are basically a phone call from your radio, you use the radio to dial the number you need to call. I love knowing I have this ability and hope I never need to use it in an emergency. There are also radios that utilize GPS.

From, Badin, NC:
Frequency Tone Call Location ST/PR Use VOIP Mi Dir
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146.9850- 100.0 K4OGB Albemarle NC OPEN 6.4 SW
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147.2100+ 110.9 KD4ADL Albemarle NC OPEN 6.4 SW
awww.repeaterbook.com_images_global_green_dot.png

145.2700- 82.5 K4ITL Asheboro NC OPEN 26.7 NE
awww.repeaterbook.com_images_global_red_dot.png

145.4100- 136.5 N4UH China Grove NC OPEN 28.8 WNW
awww.repeaterbook.com_images_global_green_dot.png

146.6550- K4CEB Concord NC OPEN E 26.4 W
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147.3900+ 100.0 WA4CHZ Locust NC OPEN 20.4 WSW
awww.repeaterbook.com_images_global_green_dot.png

147.0900+ 100.0 KI4DH Mount Gilead NC OPEN 14.6 SSE
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If you have any Questions message me, any ham is eager to help some one else get started.

-Anthony KK4JUZ
 
Both.
I've been to URE with groups that had ham radios, but I've never been with a group that everyone had ham radios.
The biggest use for off-road radio is cb.
Now I do understand all the reasons to have ham radio (I've been KF4ZGZ since '98, or '99, maybe it was 2000), but I also know why to have a cb.

Matt
 
Somebody needs a tower for their radio!
I bet you could talk all across the state!
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Free! (if you take it down, and assume all legal responsibility)
 
this is what I thought. On another side note, I find it interesting that doomsday preppers would ever share/register anything with the .gov :usa: Not saying all HAM guys are but I'd bet a donut saying that there are quite a few.
 
To catch the illegals ......
They are called OO's ... Official Observers. They monitor and listen for infractions.
Action ranges from a friendly email reminder on etiquette and rules to actually turning you over to the FCC.
The new FCC boss is also really into enforcement and has "administered corrective action" to some hams in recent times.
Ranging form little fines to big fine to arrest, trial and what will most likely be jailtime for a blatant, nose thumbing loud mouth rules violator.

Ans yes, there is a lot of self policing.
It's in their best interest.


Matt
 
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